AL Wild Card Game Live Blog

4:59	Jeff Sullivan: Hello friends, and welcome to a live blog for a game that probably will not be as much fun as yesterday’s game.

4:59	Jeff Sullivan: Joining me, in theory, will be David Temple. That will be swell!

5:00	Jeff Sullivan: And there he is!

5:00	David Temple: Oh, hello.

5:00	Jeff Sullivan: For those who will be reading the transcript later, know that it cuts off before the end, and that’s a Cover It Live RSS issue, and there’s nothing we can do about it. So the transcript will be incomplete, missing the most dramatic moments. Too badsies 🙁

5:01	Jeff Sullivan: I will be back in just a few minutes. David will be back RIGHT NOW

5:01	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Is that an opinion I hear Sullivan?

5:01	Jeff Sullivan: I’m coming armed, tonight!

5:01	Comment From AJT David, is your body a temple?

5:01	David Temple: I don’t treat it that way, if that’s what you’re asking.

5:02	Comment From Alan Thoughts on Dan Uggla?

5:02	David Temple: I think it’s kinda bold to leave a big money guy off the roster in the interest of winning.

5:03	David Temple: If they really think he isn’t the best option, it’s cool to see a team act on that.

5:04	Comment From Meano Eno Are you in the back of your truck right now?

5:04	David Temple: Yeah, and it’s raining. Super bummer.

5:05	Comment From Chase Most interesting match up you’ll be paying attention to in the game tonight?

5:06	David Temple: Hard to say, though I kinda wish Carlos Pena was still on the Rays roster, to see him face Salazar. I can’t pinpoint why, exactly.

5:06	Comment From JayT Though it’s not like leaving Ugla off the playoff roster is unprecedented. The Giants left Zito off in 2010.

5:06	David Temple: Yes. This is a good point.

5:07	David Temple: Is this the part I say “here we go”?

5:07	David Temple: Oh my. That was poor English.

5:08	David Temple: I figured out where the block button is, by the way. Just putting that out there.

5:09	David Temple: Oh, also, there is a sizable storm moving through which may kill my satellite.

5:09	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Yan Gomes is catching a wild card game and JP Arencibia is Toronto’s starting catcher and I am sad

5:09	David Temple: Gomes is an interesting dude.

5:10	Jeff Sullivan: My landlord clearly has no respect for the start times in the MLB playoffs. I’m back at last!

5:10	David Temple: As a player. He may be a boring person.

5:10	Jeff Sullivan: OPINION: Indians win by 2, Salazar goes 6, Cobb goes less than 6

5:11	David Temple: That’s pretty cool.

5:11	Comment From Guest Does Salazar always throw this hard? I haven’t seen him pitch

5:11	Jeff Sullivan: Salolazar

5:11	David Temple: Yes.

5:12	Jeff Sullivan: Salazar has reached 99 miles per hour in all of his MLB starts

5:12	Comment From Whirling darvish Wait til he starts throwing the change

5:12	Jeff Sullivan: He has not ever been a BA top 100 prospect

5:12	David Temple: Hachi Machi. It is quite a sight.

5:13	Jeff Sullivan: Yesterday I convinced a guy I climb with that Cleveland doesn’t exist anymore.

5:13	Jeff Sullivan: Boy will he be in for a surprise, when he turns on this game!

5:13	Jeff Sullivan: Which he won’t, since he obviously doesn’t follow major league baseball.

5:14	David Temple: Classic Sullivan.

5:14	Jeff Sullivan: “Yeah, they all got bored and moved to Cincinnati.”

5:14	Comment From joseph Cleveland existing is just your opinion, man.

5:15	David Temple: I’m not convinced any of you are real. Very good chance you are a creation of my subconscious.

5:15	Jeff Sullivan: Buster Olney reported the crowd broke into a pre-game Let’s-Go-Tribe chant. Playoff atmosphere! Huge news!

5:15	Jeff Sullivan: Interested if last night’s Pirates atmosphere will have any effect on tonight’s Indians atmosphere.

5:16	Jeff Sullivan: Hypothesis: no, that’s stupid

5:16	Comment From Professor Ross Eforp Is the sound messed up on TBS for you guys, too?

5:16	David Temple: Yeah, a little.

5:16	Jeff Sullivan: Yeah, sounds like there’s fans

5:16	Jeff Sullivan: Bugs flying around Cobb on the mound so now I’m getting flashbacks

5:17	Jeff Sullivan: How does a third base umpire think that he sees that…

5:17	David Temple: Oooh boooy.

5:17	Jeff Sullivan: And they’re always so SURE of it, too.

5:18	Jeff Sullivan: ADMIT WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE ANY IDEA YOU TOOLS

5:18	David Temple: “No no. I was totally paying attention. The whole time, guys.”

5:18	Jeff Sullivan: Oh, okay, good, that’s better then.

5:19	David Temple: OK. This is boring now.

5:19	Jeff Sullivan: Remark about how replay would slow down the game

5:20	Comment From Persona non Grata Is that gum or chew in Francona’s mouth? I just can’t take him seriously when he has to spit every 5 seconds during his argument.

5:20	David Temple: Pretty sure it’s gum. His wad is impressive.

5:20	Jeff Sullivan: Gum,right? Legendary gum consumption.

5:21	Jeff Sullivan: And he swallows all of it, and according to what I was told as a child that gum never digests, which is why Terry Francona weighs seven thousand pounds and gets air-lifted to the dugout steps.

5:21	Comment From Persona non Grata Science!

5:21	Jeff Sullivan: Pretty representative first innings for both starters. Cobb less sexy, equally effective

5:22	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Jeff (and David too I guess) did you see George Parros fall on his face?

5:22	David Temple: Ooooh I like this song.

5:22	Jeff Sullivan: Yeah 🙁

5:22	Jeff Sullivan: Love fighting, hate injuries. Irreconcilable!

5:22	David Temple: It was pretty gross.

5:23	Jeff Sullivan: And it happened exactly the other way around a couple years ago, I think

5:23	Jeff Sullivan: oh baseball’s back

5:23	Comment From Mr. Wrestling IV Yes, Cobb cannot equal Salazar’s swarthy Latin charm.

5:23	Jeff Sullivan: Longoria vs. Salazar. Hope we get this three times tonight.

5:23	David Temple: That’s just for the user name.

5:23	David Temple: Step it up, peeps.

5:23	Jeff Sullivan: Holy late swings batman

5:24	Jeff Sullivan: Show me Danny Salazar with a Jose Molina catcher

5:24	Jeff Sullivan: Actually, Yan Gomes scored super well this year as a pitch-framer. Nevermind!

5:25	Jeff Sullivan: This is already disgusting.

5:25	Jeff Sullivan: Jose Molina this year as a framer: +1.8 strikes/game. Yan Gomes: +1.5

5:26	Jeff Sullivan: Salazar already with as many swinging strikes as David Price on Monday

5:27	Comment From Cale Anybody else getting double sound when the ball hits the mitt?

5:27	Jeff Sullivan: This is killing me

5:27	David Temple: I’m tripping balls, man.

5:27	Jeff Sullivan: is Danny Salazar throwing two baseballs

5:27	Jeff Sullivan: He might as well be throwing two baseballs

5:27	David Temple: This is quite impressive.

5:28	David Temple: I feel like I should send out links to my favorite YouTube clips during commercials or something.

5:28	David Temple: Since we’ve seen all of them before.

5:28	Jeff Sullivan: Find some clips of Danny Salazar pitching

5:29	Jeff Sullivan: Fill in the breaks from Salazar with more Salazar

5:29	David Temple: Haha. My dog just fell off the bed.

5:29	David Temple: What a dummy.

5:29	Jeff Sullivan: stupid dog, you should kick it

5:30	Comment From Whirling darvish Was Cobb ever in BA top 100 prospect?

5:30	Jeff Sullivan: Nope. Guys with his repertoire are consistently underrated

5:30	Comment From Neil Temple, record more Stealing Home!

5:31	David Temple: I know. I’ve had a dry spell of finding guests. Got some good ones lined up for next week, though.

5:31	David Temple: Stay tuned.

5:31	Jeff Sullivan: Whoa, a two-strike shift.

5:31	Jeff Sullivan: And it worked!

5:32	Jeff Sullivan: Have I seen that before? I don’t know if I’ve seen that before.

5:32	Jeff Sullivan: Maybe the announcers just haven’t told me before.

5:34	Jeff Sullivan: Really don’t need to see replays of pitchers getting hit in the head

5:34	Comment From Meano Eno WHY ARE THEY SHOWING THIS

5:34	Jeff Sullivan: TBS is the worst

5:34	Comment From Matt Rays have been shifting on two strikes for a while.

5:34	Jeff Sullivan: Then I am the one who sucks

5:35	Comment From ctw someone on twitter said the TBS sound was meant for 3D and that’s why it’s weird? science, man

5:35	Comment From Bert and Ernie Banks How is Raburn not on third

5:35	David Temple: I don’t think he ran fast enough.

5:36	Jeff Sullivan: how does 3d television work

5:36

Comment From Lyle
For the record gum does digest. Modern gum is made up of a combo of 4 basic ingredients flavorings, sweeteners, softeners, and a gum base. The first three ingredients break down easy but gum base takes bit longer given that it’s what gives gum it’s chew and ergo needs to be able to take a good bit of chewing and saliva break down.

5:36	David Temple: You have to buy 3 TVs. Total cash grab.

5:36	Jeff Sullivan: Today I have learned about gum digestion and 3D TV

5:36	Jeff Sullivan: Thank you Lyle and David!

5:36	David Temple: And 2 strike shifts.

5:36	Jeff Sullivan: Already forgot that

5:37	Comment From Floyd david was joking…

5:37	Jeff Sullivan: that umpire sounded like he was besides me on the couch

5:37	Jeff Sullivan: TBS is putting you ON THE FIELD

5:38	David Temple: Two hands, hot shot.

5:39	Comment From Guest Has anyone discussed why Matt Joyce, the Rays best LHB, isn’t playing?

5:39	Comment From Zach Yeah, TBS, maybe not the best idea to cut to those two fans with incredibly racist face paintings at Chief Wahoo.

5:40	Jeff Sullivan: Haven’t figured this out, re: Joyce. Young instead? Maddon must like the pitch-type platoon splits, or he just figures Joyce is in a rut

5:40	Comment From Guest If the Rays win, how will 2-play in games alter their chances against the red sox? They still get Cobb and Price once in a 5-game series so it can’t be huge, right?

5:41	David Temple: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

5:41	Jeff Sullivan: One less Price starDELMON YOUNG!

5:41	David Temple: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

5:41	Jeff Sullivan: The answer is that the Rays get a slight disadvantage but Delmon Young just homered off Danny Salazar who is right-handed.

5:41	David Temple: Maddon totally trolling us.

5:42	Comment From The Return of Rambo Diaz Can someone please alert Cistulli that there was bat flip that needed coverage just now?

5:42	David Temple: I’ll send him a note.

5:43	Jeff Sullivan: Of note: pitch to Young missed location

5:43	Jeff Sullivan: Of note: pitch to Young was a first-pitch ball

5:43	Comment From Seth Why do announcers talk about pitch selection as the pitcher’s discretion? Don’t the catchers call it?

5:44	Jeff Sullivan: Of Salazar’s eight homers allowed this year, seven to righties

5:44	Jeff Sullivan: Pitchers get final say

5:44	David Temple: I think that’s why they shake their heads.

5:44	Jeff Sullivan: But generally they’ll work together in the hours and days leading up

5:45	Comment From The Return of Rambo Diaz Less interested in running to first: Jose Molina or Francisco Liriano?

5:45	David Temple: Cueto had quite a non-effort last night, as well.

5:45	Jeff Sullivan: Delmon Young, Phillies: 0.2 BB/K. Delmon Young, Rays: 0.7 BB/K

5:46	Comment From Guest Did Salazar gain velocity after TJ?

5:46	Jeff Sullivan: ayup

5:46	Jeff Sullivan: Big reason why he wasn’t on prospect lists

5:46	Comment From Sgt. Pepper How do you explain the success of Bleacher Report? Yes theres a market for that type of “analysis” but ESPN and other bigger mainstream sites seem to do an adequate job of that.

5:47	Jeff Sullivan: I don’t think B/R is about loyal readers so much as it’s about generating traffic

5:47	Jeff Sullivan: Nobody likes what they read there. I think everybody gets there by accident.

5:47	Comment From Michael Have you ever typed any sports answer into Google? Bleacher Report always has the first 10 news entries. They market well

5:48	Jeff Sullivan: SEO geniuses. So there’s some talent there.

5:48	Comment From Ryan Terry Francona your AL manager of the year?

5:48	Jeff Sullivan: I like Girardi

5:49	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p6PcFFUm5I

5:49	Comment From Guest the announcers have reached shift-apathy…they used to be pretty fascinated with all the Rays shifts..

5:49	Jeff Sullivan: We’ll get there with framing in time

5:50	Jeff Sullivan: Everything new is awesome until we talk about it too much. Just like a new band to which you over-listen

5:50	Comment From TicToc That was one lucky family…surviving all that

5:50	Comment From Sam C’mon now, this isn’t one of those pretentious ‘live’ blogs that picks and chooses comments to display is it? Sheesh, can’t term it a ‘live blog’ if there’s only privileged participation

5:51	Jeff Sullivan: …902 live readers…

5:51	Comment From Guest Has anyone noticed that Dave was 10 minutes late for his chat today and Jeff was on time. What the hell?

5:51	Jeff Sullivan: Then I was 10 minutes late

5:54	Comment From Lyle Will this winter finally be the time Giambi transitions from player coach to just coach?

5:54	David Temple: I can certainly see him getting a shot. Might have to work some in the minors though, if he wants.

5:55	Comment From Floyd weiss, ventura and matheny got hired with no managerial experience. Someone might give Giambi a shot

5:55	David Temple: Good point.

5:56	Jeff Sullivan: I like how Jose Molina is always so squinty.

5:56	Jeff Sullivan: He looks congenial

5:57	Comment From Tantalus Is life worth living, on the average, if your team never wins the WS?

5:57	Jeff Sullivan: There are still beignets

5:59	Comment From Guest Per Jonah Keri: righties have slugged .541 off Salazar’s fastball.

5:59	Jeff Sullivan: On the other hand it’s like 54 at-bats

5:59	Jeff Sullivan: and they’ve whiffed a quarter of the time

6:00	Jeff Sullivan: Weird results so far, but I don’t think it’s a real problem of his

6:01	Comment From Persona non Grata Does DeJesus look like Matt Moore to anyone else?

6:01	Jeff Sullivan: That’s been bothering me!

6:01	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Of2HU3LGdbo

6:01	Jeff Sullivan: Here is a picture of someone recognizing Jason Frasor in a car http://www.patchristin.com/Jason_Frasor.jpg

6:02	Comment From The Return of Rambo Diaz Is Lonnie Chisenhall the most-70s name of any currently-active player?

6:03	Jeff Sullivan: I don’t know, but Don Kelly is of another era

6:03

Comment From Cream
What would happen if a scrub on a playoff team just assaulted a star on an opponents team? Example, Jose Constanaza batting lead off, charges mound and starts battering Kershaw in the face with his helmet, thus knocking Kershaw out of game. Obviously, he’s ejected/suspended/fined, but does that team face some punishment. If its not an automatic forfeit, should the Braves consider giving Jose Constanza some money to go do this?

6:03	David Temple: This is such an odd question.

6:04	Jeff Sullivan: I have so thought about that a bunch of times before.

6:04	Jeff Sullivan: Teams these days are cowards. It’s right out there for the taking.

6:04	Comment From Dylan I feel like it’s absolutely crazy just how big Dejesus’s role is considering this is his 3rd team of the season. Starting LF, leadoff, and might start in CF if Jennings ever can’t go. Has anything like this happened in recent history?

6:05	Jeff Sullivan: Well, he’s pretty much a perfectly average player, and he has the platoon advantage today

6:05	Comment From MJ are the Molina brothers really brothers or is it all part of some faux-nepotistic cabal? they don’t look at all alike

6:06	Jeff Sullivan: Jose Benjamin Molina

6:06	Jeff Sullivan: Benjamin Jose Molina

6:06	Jeff Sullivan: Yadier Benjamin Molina

6:06	Jeff Sullivan: also here’s another Jose Molina http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=molina002alb

6:06	Comment From Alan Molina or Martin defensively?

6:06	Jeff Sullivan: Martin

6:06	Comment From semperty Cleveland has, to a lesser extent, started up the chanting like Pittsburgh. Does this become a trend (at least in October)?

6:07	Jeff Sullivan: I really hope so

6:07	Comment From Michael What city deserves an MLB team that doesn’t have one?

6:07	Jeff Sullivan: Seattle

6:07	Comment From AJT Can’t wait till Atlanta plays and no one will want chanting anymore.

6:08	Jeff Sullivan: Double standards!

6:09	Comment From Thufir They just posted a stat about the Rays reducing their errors from last year to this one, 120 to 69 or something like that. What is the difference in team fielding per advanced stats? Can’t figure out how to find it.

6:09	Jeff Sullivan: +22 to +8 by DRS

6:10	Jeff Sullivan: +18 to +38 by UZR

6:10	Jeff Sullivan: so, they got better or worse

6:11	Comment From Alan New market inefficiency: goons leading off in the playoffs

6:11	Jeff Sullivan: As soon as they’re officially run out of hockey…

6:11	Comment From Ezra Martin despite Molina’s pitch framing?

6:11	Jeff Sullivan: Martin’s also a good framer

6:12	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Which Rays player name would be the funniest to hear chanted?

6:12	Jeff Sullivan: Kiermaier

6:12	Jeff Sullivan: Another missed fastball location, speeding up Jennings’ bat

6:13	David Temple: Did Jennings fist pump out of the box there?

6:13	Jeff Sullivan: He did!

6:13	Jeff Sullivan: Very subtly

6:13	Jeff Sullivan: what the hell is this

6:13	Jeff Sullivan: they are intentionally walking Delmon young what the hell is this

6:13	Comment From erik WHAT IS HAPPENING

6:13	Comment From Persona non Grata The only way he’d get a walk!?

6:14	Jeff Sullivan: WHAT THE ACTUAL F*** IS THIS

6:14	Jeff Sullivan: LOL

6:14	Comment From Sgt. Pepper I’m surprised he didn’t try to swing at those

6:14	Comment From Tony Surprised Young didn’t swing there.

6:14	Jeff Sullivan: I mean, okay, no harm, but lol what

6:14	Jeff Sullivan: Young’s first intentional walk of the season

6:15	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://wapc.mlb.com/play?content_id=25717643

6:15	Jeff Sullivan: recommended

6:16	Comment From Chase Is it just me or is TB really good at hitting hard grounders through the infield?

6:16	Jeff Sullivan: Not as good as St. Louis

6:16	Comment From Robert Why does it seem like half the writers on fangraphs are mariners fans?

6:16	Jeff Sullivan: Because Dave and I are Mariners fans and we’re two front page full-timers

6:16	Jeff Sullivan: But don’t get us wrong, we actually hate the Mariners

6:17	Comment From Professor Ross Eforp I got this free club from Warrior Custom Golf. It isn’t bad.

6:18	Comment From Whirling darvish Does Zobrist re-sign with TB?

6:18	Jeff Sullivan: Got a couple affordable team options

6:18	Jeff Sullivan: because of course he does

6:18	Comment From jesse have I missed the obligatory volcano questions?

6:18	Jeff Sullivan: Just now starting

6:18	David Temple: Hey everybody, could you clap your hands? Thanks.

6:19	Jeff Sullivan: k

6:19	Jeff Sullivan: keep the chat going though

6:19	Comment From Michael Unlike A’s and Pirates, Rays have never been lovable underdogs, have they? Kinda like rooting for your high school chess club.

6:19	Jeff Sullivan: 2008

6:19	Jeff Sullivan: They never had the history, but they were a big-time bandwagon

6:20	Comment From Josh HA! The Rays official Twitter sent this out “Delmon Young hit a go-ahead HR for #Rays and was intentionally walked in a playoff game. Things people didn’t expect to hear in 2013”

6:20	Jeff Sullivan: whoa it’s true https://twitter.com/RaysBaseball/status/385574017077231616

6:21	Comment From Robert Is it just me or are all those articles about baseball dieing just a product of baby boomer nostalgia?

6:21	David Temple: I don’t know what it’s a product of, but I don’t buy it.

6:22	David Temple: Seems to be doing OK. I guess it depends on your metric. Attendance? Money? “Integrity”?

6:22	David Temple: Barreled

6:23	Comment From Meano Eno viewership was up 14% this year

6:23	Jeff Sullivan: Well apparently I was 30 seconds behind on DVR

6:24	Jeff Sullivan: I wonder what a coming-out party actually is

6:24	Comment From Dave Pirates get Miller and Wacha at PNC Park, Matheny blew it, both 2 syllable, easily chantable last names.

6:24	Jeff Sullivan: Wainwright, Kelly…

6:24	Comment From Bobby Higginson How about that Casey Blake trade eh

6:25	Comment From Brian Jeff, do you know Tony Blengino? He used to live right next to me before he got his job with the Brewers and now he works for the Mariners.

6:25	Jeff Sullivan: Now he works for no one

6:25	Jeff Sullivan: I will probably never see him again

6:25	Comment From Sam Any way you could clear up for me whether David Price is under control for just next season or the next two seasons?

6:25	Jeff Sullivan: Two more

6:26	Comment From Brolo Do the Rays get a better player than Myers back for Price this offseason?

6:26	Jeff Sullivan: Higher-ceiling player

6:26	David Temple: Did you guys know Jose Molina was the last catcher to throw out Rickey Henderson?

6:27	Jeff Sullivan: Yes, as of a few seconds ago!

6:27	Jeff Sullivan: Look at Loney check third base before he argues

6:27	Jeff Sullivan: Smart player who is mad

6:27	Jeff Sullivan: Brilliant play by Zobrist that will be forgotten within 20 minutes

6:28	Jeff Sullivan: Dead tie at first base, looked like

6:28	David Temple: Oooof. That was close.

6:28	Comment From Brian Is Ben Zobrist the most underrated player in baseball?

6:28	David Temple: I always say so, but what do I know?

6:29	Jeff Sullivan: Donaldson!

6:29	Jeff Sullivan: Or Zobrist. Good argument to be had.

6:29	Comment From Brolo Terry Francona think Delmon Young is

6:29	Comment From Sambf Holy shit I like hearing Maddon talk. So much better than “well we really have to bring our A game today”.

6:29	Jeff Sullivan: An actual listenable in-game interview. Shares information, casually and coherently. So good.

6:30	Comment From Mike B. It’s high time that Cleveland changed their mascot back to the beloved arachnids of yore.

6:31	David Temple: Spider is an underrated mascot.

6:33	David Temple: Wowza

6:33	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTUx4uatPNM

6:36	Comment From Guest How did you find that video, it has like 150 views

6:37	David Temple: Because I’ve watched every episode of Mr. Show a dozen times.

6:37	Comment From samy Better alternate name: Busytown Pickle Cars or Cleveland Spiders?

6:37	David Temple: This is one of the best things I’ve ever read: http://www.fangraphs.com/not/how-busytown-stole-the-tampa-bay-rays/

6:39	Jeff Sullivan: Well thanks to David Temple I just lost 10 minutes watching David Cross

6:39	Jeff Sullivan: Back to the thing that matters

6:40	Comment From MJ geez, calm down. it’s not like he blew up the moon

6:40	David Temple: This guy gets it.

6:41	Jeff Sullivan: Salazar ends with seven swinging strikes. Had five through the first two innings

6:41	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nd3nDfRy-bE

6:42	David Temple: Hey it’s that Scrabble guy.

6:42	Comment From joseph SCRABBLE!

6:42	Jeff Sullivan: “Johnny Bullpen”. I like that nickname

6:43	Jeff Sullivan: Hey look, Rzepczynski is back to being a good reliever again

6:43	Jeff Sullivan: 1 BB, 16 K against lefties this year

6:46	David Temple: That’ll do.

6:46	Comment From Robert How do you pronounce the name of the guy on the mound?

6:47	David Temple: Zep-chin-ski I think?

6:47	David Temple: Nevermind. He’s gone now.

6:48	Comment From Guest Hey guys, what does the fox say?

6:48	David Temple: I know what the whistles go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnzw_i4YmKk

6:50	Jeff Sullivan: “Shaw rides him up the ladder and down he goes”

6:51	Jeff Sullivan: that is some kind of expression

6:51	Jeff Sullivan: Super late swing by Loney

6:51	Comment From jesse are we playing sports caster comments that sound they come from porno’s game?

6:51	Comment From David I miss chip carey and everything being “fisted”

6:52	David Temple: those comments came back to back

6:52	David Temple: What in the what

6:52	Jeff Sullivan: Molina did it!

6:52	Jeff Sullivan: I mean, he didn’t, but he tried it!

6:52	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P57FQryNpOk

6:55	Jeff Sullivan: The Indians definitely weren’t paying Molina very much attention, which has been his secret all career long. I wonder if he was being held on

6:55	Jeff Sullivan: Cobb at three swinging strikes, seven grounders, six non-grounders…

6:55	Comment From Guest I think it safe to say that most pitchers names can be turned into some easy two-syllable chant, either first or last name

6:56	Jeff Sullivan: Something that has always troubled me about Anaheim: they chant “Let’s go Du-ucks” instead of “Go Ducks go”

6:56	Jeff Sullivan: Such stupid people

6:56	Jeff Sullivan: that pitch just got Cobbered

6:56	Comment From Michael DJ Kitty: greatest thing to happen to Jumbotrons ever?

6:56	Jeff Sullivan: Giancarlo Stanton’s home run

6:57	Comment From RetireNutting How does a person without cable television watch playoff baseball at home?!!!!!!!!!!!

6:58	Jeff Sullivan: Internet proxies, is what somebody less ethical would recommend

6:58	Jeff Sullivan: Another liner

6:58	Jeff Sullivan: Worth it to hasten up the bullpen activity

6:58	Comment From In Class Shouldnt Even Be Posting Any chance of a Portland meet-up for a playoff game?

6:59	Jeff Sullivan: Sure, unofficially, for a game I’m not live-blogging

6:59	Jeff Sullivan: I’ll put something on Twitter one of these days

7:00	David Temple: Wow, Bourn.

7:00	Jeff Sullivan: It doesn’t all feel like Michael Bourn should be strikeout-prone

7:00	Jeff Sullivan: *at all

7:01	Jeff Sullivan: 23% on the season

7:01	Jeff Sullivan: down from 6.2 WAR to 2.0!

7:01	Jeff Sullivan: Figgins-y

7:02	Comment From Ezra Okay, I know it “isn’t real baseball”, but I really love these wild card games.

7:02	Jeff Sullivan: This is totally real baseball

7:02	Jeff Sullivan: These games are awesome

7:03	David Temple: Agreed.

7:03	Jeff Sullivan: Downsides of the shift right there

7:03	Jeff Sullivan: And y’all thought Joe Maddon was some kind of predictathon genius

7:04	Jeff Sullivan: This is a very animated, energetic mound conversation

7:04	Jeff Sullivan: I can’t remember the last time I talked that enthusiastically out loud

7:05	David Temple: Still love that they put the gloves over their mouths.

7:05	Jeff Sullivan: What if somebody read Hickey’s lips??

7:05	Comment From kl is anybody else drinking?

7:05	Jeff Sullivan: No, you are the only one, and it is a problem.

7:06	David Temple: Yeah, a little early, don’t you think?

7:06	Comment From Guest Sneakiest disappointing year: Michael Bourn.

7:06	Jeff Sullivan: only 0.2 WAR back of Prince Fielder

7:07	David Temple: What an escape.

7:07	Jeff Sullivan: Well this is disheartening for the hosts.

7:07	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://youtu.be/JAAbuGX-qEY?t=1m17s

7:07	Jeff Sullivan: Not at all a good pitch for Kipnis to swing at

7:08	Jeff Sullivan: Commercial alternative alternative: http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=6387&position=OF#fieldingadvanced

7:08	Jeff Sullivan: That woman left a man for a pig on a jetski

7:09	David Temple: Thanks a lot, Obama.

7:09	Comment From Andy Is Cobb in the top 3 AL East pitchers? Price, Bucholtz, Cobb?

7:09	Jeff Sullivan: He’s in the argument

7:09	Jeff Sullivan: Well there is no argument

7:09	Jeff Sullivan: But if there were — and if it were heated — Cobb would be a reasonable submission

7:10	Comment From ralph Yeah, I’ve never understood the alleged stathead groupthink that these games deserved to be looked down upon.

7:11	Jeff Sullivan: It is certifiably insane to have whole seasons come down to a game, but only a little more insane than settling with short series. The playoffs are already random and scheduled madness still feels a hell of a lot like madness in the event

7:12	Comment From Lyle Favorite player to never win it all?

7:12	Jeff Sullivan: Edgar 🙁

7:12	Comment From ralph According to the Twitter, Kipnis burned his name in the rug in college. I assume on purpose.

7:13	Jeff Sullivan: I don’t know what this means but I have accepted it into the chat

7:13	Comment From Jack I hope people noticed that the Indians played “What does the fox say” in the stadium a few innings back, they must be cursed because of that

7:13	Comment From Tyler jeff have you made your postseason predictions?

7:14	Jeff Sullivan: I wrote them down on a piece of paper and lit it on fire with a candle in my living room

7:14	Jeff Sullivan: Nick Swisher framed that line drive pretty well

7:15	Comment From Andy Should Cobb be a priority to lock up long term? He has nasty stuff, and reminds me of Maddux out there.

7:15	Jeff Sullivan: I bet they’ll get talking after the year is up

7:15	David Temple: This commercial is basically about me.

7:15	Comment From Scott What are the %win splits right now?

7:15	Jeff Sullivan: 85% Tampa Bay http://www.fangraphs.com/livewins.aspx?date=2013-10-02&team=Indians&dh=0&season=2013

7:17	Comment From Steve 1 Jeff you trying to show the variability of defensive stats?

7:17	Jeff Sullivan: Bourn’s a pretty extreme and fascinating case

7:17	Comment From Michael Man, when did pitching in the AL East get so miserable?

7:17	Jeff Sullivan: seriously

7:17	Jeff Sullivan: get with it Orioles

7:17	Comment From Dusty Baker I’m glad Maddon’s sticking with his pitcher. Cobb gets better as the game goes on.

7:18	Comment From Guest October gives us Postseason baseball and the start of the NHL season. Times are good

7:18	Jeff Sullivan: except for when they overlap 🙁

7:18	David Temple: That was a max effort swing.

7:18	Comment From Guest AL pitchers: Yu, Felix, Justin?

7:18	Jeff Sullivan: Probably not Verlander anymore

7:19	Comment From Dustin Correia, Pelfrey, Diamond

7:19	Comment From David Would you change the playoff format if you were commish Jeff? and to what?

7:19	Jeff Sullivan: As few off days as possible, wild-card roster is the division-series roster. Not much else to tinker with. No way to make it more “meaningful” without getting too long

7:20	Comment From Michael Current player that you’d like to see win the most?

7:20	Jeff Sullivan: Ichiro

7:20	Comment From erik jeff, where did you go to high school?

7:20	David Temple: Zoinks.

7:20	Jeff Sullivan: Francis Parker

7:20	Jeff Sullivan: Yeah, that’s a swing

7:20	David Temple: Probably went.

7:20	Jeff Sullivan: According to the arbitrary, unhelpful rule book

7:20	David Temple: That motion from the 3B ump was a little much.

7:21	Jeff Sullivan: Maybe he had a cramp

7:21	Comment From ralph Attribution for the Kipnis name-burning thing: https://twitter.com/chasegreene16/status/385560291091570689

7:22	Comment From In Class Missing The Game WHYGODWHY It’s torture reading this chat and being unable to watch the game. And Jeff please post to FG too for people who don’t use Twitter. Otherwise just meet me at Peter’s.

7:22	Comment From MJ when cobb’s motion is sped up he looks like elaine benes dancing

7:22	Jeff Sullivan: Might not be an official FG meetup, which would be weird to put on FG

7:23	Jeff Sullivan: Might just get together at a bar for the hell of it

7:23	Comment From Jack Who’s Price going to get traded to eventually? That’s only going to make AL East pitching worse

7:23	Jeff Sullivan: For some reason I keep thinking Rangers and Cubs

7:23	Jeff Sullivan: But not both of them, that would be unprecedented

7:23	David Temple: Indeed.

7:24	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2fiUhXzjNA

7:25	Comment From Tom Verlander has 75 IP, 19 BB and 80 K in the last two months. Why does everyone think he’s garbage now because he’s had two bad months in the last five years?

7:25	Jeff Sullivan: That is exactly what people have asserted, that Justin Verlander is garbage now.

7:26	Jeff Sullivan: He’s quite good, still, but he’s not longer an automatic top-3 in the American League

7:26	David Temple: If I go to the hospital, I’m actually calling someone.

7:27	Comment From erik go lancers!

7:27	Comment From MJ 16,000 views and only one thumbs down on omar vizquel’s musical ability. people are too nice.

7:27	Jeff Sullivan: The people who made me a pitcher!

7:27	Jeff Sullivan: The people who *turned me into a pitcher, they didn’t construct a pitcher for me out of materials

7:27	David Temple: it’s because you’re tall.

7:27	Jeff Sullivan: and left-handed

7:28	Jeff Sullivan: it’s like people are blind to how shitty you are

7:28	Jeff Sullivan: I CURSED, CAMERON, AND YOU DIDN’T STOP ME

7:28	Comment From Michael Rays could get a higher-ceiling player for Price than they got in Myers? I just don’t see a contender/pretender who could give them something more than what the Royals did.

7:29	Jeff Sullivan: I think Myers is good but with a somewhat limited ceiling, so yeah, I think the Rays could acquire more potential if they went that route

7:29	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://tinyurl.com/k6fkz9x

7:30	Comment From Gila Monster Can we assure Joey Votto is a manager or hitting coach? He would be amazing.

7:30	Jeff Sullivan: I don’t think he has the interest in helping other people

7:30	Comment From Table Trivia: Name the most recent team to field three position players with 8 WAR or greater.

7:30	Jeff Sullivan: one of those 90s Mariners teams?

7:30	David Temple: Miami Heat.

7:30	David Temple: I suck at this.

7:31	Comment From TicToc Are umpires aware of Molina’s framing skill? Do they tend to overthink pitches when he is behind the plate knowing that he can be so good at it?

7:31	Jeff Sullivan: I’m sure they’ve heard about it, and I don’t think it has an effect. Umpires are too confident in their own abilities

7:31	Comment From Sgt. Pepper Will Fangraphs fly me to Portland for this meetup?

7:31	Jeff Sullivan: ask Cameron

7:33	Comment From Steve 1 Jeff do you not have real friends to drink with?

7:33	Jeff Sullivan: who care about baseball in Portland?

7:33	Comment From Lyle How much will Price get in an extension or as a free agent?

7:33	Jeff Sullivan: tons

7:34	Comment From Benson Do the Rays go to the pen to start the 7th or does Maddon stick with Cobb?

7:34	Jeff Sullivan: I’m expecting more Cobb

7:34	David Temple: Uh oh. My satellite is going out!

7:34	Jeff Sullivan: Look out everybody!

7:34	David Temple: blergh

7:37	Comment From Professor Ross Eforp Do the Royals have any prospects left? Maybe the problem is they didn’t give up ENOUGH this offseason?

7:37	Jeff Sullivan: They actually have lots

7:38	Comment From Professor Ross Eforp Ground Floor – over/under 1 season? These shows that TBS pimps during sports are always terrible.

7:38	Jeff Sullivan: Frank Caliendo, doing impressions of the cast of Ground Floor

7:39	Comment From Dustin How limited is Myers ceiling? He seems like he could have a .230 or .240 ISO at some point with a K rate between 18 and 20%. Peak Jayson Werth?

7:40	Jeff Sullivan: I figure he’ll strike out a lot with only reasonable defense, so he should have little problem being good, but more problems being great

7:40	Jeff Sullivan: Getting impatient and hoping for something to happen

7:40	Jeff Sullivan: This game is taking too long for a game that isn’t particularly dramatic

7:41	Comment From The Return of Rambo Diaz Rob Neyer?

7:41	Jeff Sullivan: Actually we do have a good baseball population here. It’s fun to hang with Neyer and Matthew Kory, and I just had lunch with the Hit Tracker guy this afternoon

7:42	Jeff Sullivan: plus we have the inventor of Big League Chew! and I have it on good authority that a well-known writer could be moving here soon

7:42	Comment From Thad 2004 Cardinals for the trivia question: Rolen (9) Pujols (8.1) Edmonds (8)

7:42	Jeff Sullivan: dang

7:42	Comment From machetko Jeff, you know there’s another Jeff Sullivan who is apparently a scout for the Phillies? https://twitter.com/JSully12

7:42	Jeff Sullivan: There’s also a Jeff Sullivan in Portland who is a photographer who takes a lot of pictures of volcanoes

7:42	Jeff Sullivan: Yan Gomes is fairly underrated

7:43	Comment From Zach Who are the best targets for the Orioles this off season?

7:43	Jeff Sullivan: Good starting pitchers

7:43	Comment From Lou Bierbauer They named the Pirates, the Pirates because of me! Thanks TBS!

7:43	Jeff Sullivan: I have legitimately learned something!

7:43	Comment From Tony I had blocked the Frank Caliendo ads from my memory. Thanks, Jeff.

7:44	Jeff Sullivan: On the other hand, FOX used to pimp the hell out of House, and House was really good for a while

7:44	Jeff Sullivan: “YOU’RE RISKING A PATIENT’S LIFE!”

7:44	Comment From ralph Jeff, who is your second-favorite Jeff Sullivan?

7:44	Jeff Sullivan: the photographer

7:45	David Temple: He’s my first.

7:45	Jeff Sullivan: More solid contact. Weird offensive game for the Indians today

7:45	Jeff Sullivan: You’re my least-favorite temple.

7:45	Comment From Guest Not that you’ve ever googled yourself

7:45	Jeff Sullivan: I’m doing it right now

7:45	Comment From Lyle Edmonds has 64 career WAR any chance he can sneak into hall of fame?

7:45	Jeff Sullivan: Not much of one

7:46	Jeff Sullivan: Didn’t even crack 2,000 hits

7:46	Jeff Sullivan: Oof, that was a quality curveball

7:46	Jeff Sullivan: That was a terrible curveball

7:48	Jeff Sullivan: Cobb: nine swinging strikes, 11 grounders, 3 fly balls, eight line drives. And it felt like it

7:48	Comment From ralph “Her father is the district attorney!” wasn’t as successful.

7:48	Jeff Sullivan: What show was that?

7:48	Jeff Sullivan: Did that even make it to air?

7:49	David Temple: Commercial alternative: http://www.ifc.com/comedy-bang-bang/videos/reggie-makes-music-anna-kendrick

7:49	David Temple: At least I think it’s a commercial. My tv is still dead.

7:50	David Temple: The help menu says I shouldn’t go on my roof to check for problems, but it’s not my dad.

7:52	Jeff Sullivan: Joel Peralta: baseball’s slowest pace http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=10&type=15&season=2013&month=0&season1=2013&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=11,d

7:52	Jeff Sullivan: woof woof woof

7:52	Jeff Sullivan: Chances have most certainly been there

7:53	Comment From Will Is there a decent baseball bar in Portland? Or any sports bar that isn’t soccer- or bro-centric?

7:54	Jeff Sullivan: Claudia’s, Spirit Of 77

7:56	Comment From Nathan I wish mlb gameday showed available bench players and pitchers, i.e. the whole 25 man roster available. would be valuable info while watching

7:56	Jeff Sullivan: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_10_02_tbamlb_clemlb_1&mode=gameday#gid=2013_10_02_tbamlb_clemlb_1&mode=classic

7:56	Jeff Sullivan: Lineups tab in the box score

7:56	Comment From ralph SKIN was the district attorney show. And I guess the district attorney was actually HIS father: http://digamma.net/btfwiki/Skin and also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srrZ0h119HE which tells me it was “short-lived.”

7:56	Comment From Michael Why is Nick Swisher so awful in post-season play?

7:56	Jeff Sullivan: Too much enthusiasm

7:57	Comment From Goomer Apparently dugout floor are the filthiest things on earth.

7:57	Jeff Sullivan: better rookie hazing would be to make the rookies lick it

7:57	Jeff Sullivan: provided you don’t care about your rookies staying off the disabled list

7:57	Comment From Brett In Oakland, that would mean death

7:57	Jeff Sullivan: they can snorkel

7:58	David Temple: Now I’m queasy.

BAL	CHW	LAA
BOS	CLE	OAK
NYY	DET	SEA
TBR	KCR	TEX
TOR	MIN	HOU

ATL	CHC*	ARI
MIA	CIN	COL
WSN	MIL	LAD
NYM*	PIT	SDP*
PHI	STL	SFG